Senate passes compromise name for Musial bridge

Monday

Jul 1, 2013 at 9:00 AM

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Legislation naming a new span over the Mississippi River at St. Louis the "Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge" cleared Congress on Thursday, and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill predicted President Barack Obama would sign it quickly.

Unanimous passage by the Senate came two days after the House approved the measure on a vote of 395-2.

"It's a good day for St. Louis, Cardinal Nation, and the Musial family — and I'm thrilled the 'Stan Span' will soon be a reality," McCaskill said in a release Thursday night.

The name represents a compromise between Missouri lawmakers who wanted to name the new Interstate 70 for the late St. Louis Cardinals great and Illinois lawmakers who wanted the name to honor military veterans.

It also sums up Musial's life, on and off the baseball field.

Musial, who died in January at age 92, was a three-time MVP and seven-time batting champ spent his entire 22-year career with the Cardinals and help guide them to three World Series titles. He was also a Navy veteran of World War II and a 2011 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which recognizes contributions "to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

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